title: Developing a public health policy-research nexus: an evaluation of Nurse Practitioner models in aged care.
abstract: A frustration often expressed by researchers and policy-makers in public health is an apparent mismatch between respective priorities and expectations for research. Academics bemoan an oversimplification of their work, a reticence for independent critique and the constant pressure to pursue evaluation funding. Meanwhile, policy-makers look for research reports written in plain language with clear application, which are attuned to current policy settings and produced quickly. In a context where there are calls in western nations for evidence based policy with stronger links to academic research, such a mismatch can present significant challenges to policy program evaluation. The purpose of this paper is to present one attempt to overcome these challenges. Specifically, the paper describes the development of a conceptual framework for a large-scale, multifaceted evaluation of an Australian Government health initiative to expand Nurse Practitioner models of practice in aged care service delivery. In doing so, the paper provides a brief review of key points for the facilitation of a strong research-policy nexus in public health evaluations, as well as describes how this particular evaluation embodies these key points. As such, the paper presents an evaluation approach which may be adopted and adapted by others undertaking public health policy program evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2606, Australia. Brenton.Prosser@canberra.edu.au
authors.forename: Brenton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Rhian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011050:Policy Making; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: Nurse Practitioner; Policy evaluation; Public health; Research-policy nexus